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August 28, 2002, 9:00 a.m. Let the Hannitization Begin Listen to him. Watch him. Now, read him. Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty Over Liberalism by Sean Hannity. (Regan Books, 335 pages, $25.95)

ean Hannity's radio show went national on September 10, 2001. For him, every day after that has only clarified what he already knew to be true: that America is great, but the folks on the left don't always know it.

In his new book, Let Freedom Ring, Hannity argues that "The views of the American Left — and the policies that flow from them — aren't just wrongheaded; they're reckless."

He's clear and careful on an important point: He's not blaming liberals for what happened on Sept. 11 of last year. But he is equally clear in arguing that ideas do have consequences, and that many of the Left's ideas are "responsible for making America more vulnerable, for creating confusion in our society and among our children about what is right and wrong, and thus for placing our freedom and security at risk."

Hannity therefore is on a mission to, as he has been saying on his radio show, "Hannitize" America. He's standing athwart history yelling stop, through his radio show, his television debate show and book tour, and now his book. "If the Left succeeds in gaining and retaining more power," he writes, "the well-being of future generations will be at greater peril. I fear they will inherit a nation that is less free and less secure than the nation we inherited from the last generation."

It's certainly a mission NR-types are on board.

"Let freedom ring." If you've heard Sean Hannity on his syndicated radio show or his nightly prime-time FOX program Hannity and Colmes, with liberal Alan Colmes, another radio host, you know that's a favorite phrase of Hannity's for signing off, for going to commercials — and for reminding conservatives and liberals alike what the United States is all about.

His new book, which should be a bestseller, is a love letter to America, a primer on conservatism, a warning to liberals, a civics-class textbook, and a perfect Christmas gift. Let Freedom Ring is an honest book by an honest guy who is both angered and saddened by liberals who would rather dilute the military than build it up; by liberals who want to overtax hardworking Americans; by liberals who don't seem to care that many American children are not able to get the best education available; by some 42 million legal abortions since Roe.

Hannity's conservatism is rooted in his working-class background, his religion, and his understanding of the American Founding, all which he expounds on in the book. He's frank about the fact that a lot of what he believes he strongly advocates with his kids in mind. What kind of world to hand them, what to teach them, how to protect them — all that important-priority stuff. He communicates a heartfelt belief that American history is ours to shape, and that ultimately every citizen and politician will be answering to someone much higher than a Gallup poll (or Nielson, Arbitron, or amazon.com rating) — and so we ought to be vigilant to be on the right side.

Post-September 11, way too many people view the world the way they did the first day Hannity's radio show went national: Things like junk enviro-science and gays in the military were top priorities for liberals then — and, for many, they still are. That's what Hannity wants to change.

Rather than just calling those who disagree with him "the enemy," which he could have done and still sold books, Hannity communicates a real respect for the other guy's opinion, even if he thinks it insanely wrong — and it's this decency that gets people coming back to him. His style is to talk them off the edge. He says as much in reference to the abortion debate — which he deems the most important issue of our times — in Let Freedom Ring — and anyone who has seen him in action knows it to be true:

Throughout my career, I've always made it a point to invite pro-abortion leaders onto my programs to discuss their views. I try to be firm and direct and ask pointed questions. I try not to be rude or offensive. It isn't my purpose simply to score debating points. My hope and prayer is that somebody out there listening by radio or watching on television will consider both arguments — one that emphasize life and morality, the one that emphasizes choice and convenience — and their minds and hearts will open to the pro-life position.

Hannity could have easily written a book without much research, simply sounding off on the way he sees the world, and people would still buy it; it would, in its own way, have probably been an interesting book. But that's not what Let Freedom Ring is. Though framed, obviously, by his opinions, it's thoroughly researched and well written. Sure, Hannity's angry about Sept. 11, the Clinton years, abortion, and other evils and injustices, but he's not full of the bile that characterizes some others in the talk/pundit field (such as his critics at Salon). Part of his Hannitization mission — and don't get him wrong, that's not an ego trip, it's him just having a little fun while courting the unconverted — is being persuasive. And he has no use for screaming and hatred as he inches toward the goal.

There's tremendous value in that. Sean Hannity is a regular guy, with a regular family, who worked his way up to the success he enjoys today (and he's clearly still working hard, and living a somewhat normal commuting Long Islander's life). He believes in America and believes in its promise for Americans. Hannity's overarching message is to individual Americans. Ideas matter in their lives.

Not everyone gets that, but they'll get things like this: Hannity recounts an on-air conversation with left-wing liberal commentator Julianne Malveaux. She had told the Washington Times that "it's ridiculous for black Americans to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because its words are nothing but a lie. Just a lie." When Hannity asked her if she was serious, she said "absolutely." The last time she said the pledge she was pre-teen. She said:

That's when I began to learn history and to understand the nature of our nation's inequalities and really to be stunned by them…and to look at these words, which are a promise, and to see how far we've come — you know, what the big gap is between the promise and the reality. I can't say a lie. I'll tell you something, Sean. It gets caught up in my throat like sawdust, and it won't come out.

Here's a successful black woman, and that's the message she has for people watching her on television. And she's not alone, of course. One has only to take the subway or be around a high school right after dismissal time to hear similar disdain. Hannity wants those blessed with time at the mike to get over themselves, and preach a healthy message about the promise of this country instead. And so — partly in an effort to convert them — he'll keep having the liberals on.

And whether you're liable to agree with him or not, Hannity's book is worth a read. And, especially, if you agree with him and have been trying to convince your liberal relatives, girlfriend, co-worker, whomever, that Right is right, you'll especially want that person to read this book. Sean Hannity is Russell Kirk for everyman, and brought into our post-9/11 reality. His Let Freedom Ring is a primer in which everyone will find something of interest, and by which some might even be changed.